THE QUANTUM
A Tourist's Guide to the Nctvorendlng Universe
MARCUS CHOWN "IF±'
' _
tI. . . . . .
pall .. ,'
,
THE QUANTUM
THE QUANTUM
A Tourist's Gu ide to the Neverendlng Un iverse
Marcus (hown
lrutph H..,'Y,.,.... WaohinBlon. uc.
Jo .... h li en". P.... • SOO Fifth Sttftt. NW • Wishin~ton. DC 20001 Tht l""Ph Htnry I'rus •• n imprint of tht ""tional Acod..,.i .. PrflS. w .. c .... t~ with tht S""I of m.kins books on ode""e. ted"'ology• • nd h•• llh rnor< wi.kly .... il.hI. to prof""ional •• nd t ht puhlic. l""Ph Htnry was """' of tht founders of tht Nation.1 Academy of Sci
lN in .. itulio ... .
Cltoown, Marcus. 1he q....,tum zoo: " ourist. ~id. MaKu, d>owrL
'0 tht neveKndi"l! uni~1$< I
p. an. I""ludos bihlios,""phic. 1...-f.... ncn .nd ind ... ISHN 0·309·09622-7 1. Quo.ntum thtory-J>opularworks. 2. ~lativity ( Physla)-I'opulor works. I. Tid •. t.,'C17U2.C486 2006 SJO.12---dc22
Copyright 2006 by Morc", d>own. All right> ......-1. Print~
in tht Uni'N St .... of A"",rica
ACKNOWLED6MENTS
My than .. to th. fulkrwing pt<>pl. who
.ithtt htlpnJ mr dirtClly,
inspi~ mo, or oimply """"" ....g<:
"r ,hi,
book: My dod, Kartn. Sa .... Mrnguc. Jt/lrty Ilobbi ..... RKhd Marcus. 1>10.... Card"" .. Urian Cltgg. t>rofruor Tony Hey. Kat. Oldfield, Vivien lames, Brian May. Dr, Urua 6....11, I.>r. Larry Schulman, LJr. \\Iojci«b Zur.k, Sir Manin Rd>, A1cnndn Ftach.m,Nick M.yh..... -Smith. E1i .. bc,h Gtlk<,A1 10...... \)o.id H<>u!h, F..,J lIornum, !':am Young. Roy P.rry, Ha..1 Muir. 51.art and Nikli Clark.Simon 1"5'- lI>.rr1 F"",SptnCft "'i&l>l. Karttl Gunnell, '" Gunnell, Pat and Brion Chil ....... Std. Barlow. 5i""'"" Mazzon. IIarhar. ""II and David, ,u1i. i!;oltOOn. An"" UrsdJ, !\arb,.... Ki....-. L>alt ;' FrKd~. Jan Hollan.!. Martin Dollard,lIrian Clegg. Sylvia and Sarah Kofyll ...., Matilda and I.l
pwplo .ro ~lH>"sil>1o r", anyo",,...
,
FOREWORD
On. ,,(,I>< following i. tr"", • E... ry bre•• h you lak< ""n,"in, an atom br... he
• Th=i>.liquid ,h.. < lOp of. builLlin~ than., II>< bottom. "n at"", can be in many iliff.rem pl;w;:n at "nc., Iht "'luivo1<111 of you btiIl!l in Ntw Yo,•• nd London a' the Silme tim •. Til< mtirt human ,aU _uId fit in "'" voIUJ'DI' or. suprcut... 0". ptr«nt of the statk on a td .. ;sion bc1wct" .... • ion< i, the r<~< ofth.lli~ ~g. Tim. , ... vol is nOi forIHddon by til< I.w, of physics..
."1It
A {UP "r coff.. ~shs mo .. wh"" it
00". Tho r...,or )'Ou
1"'''''~ tho slimmer
is"'"
,han wllm it i,
)'Ou Ft.
No, I'm joking. They or< 011,"'01 ,... ",ien« wril.r I om tan,ly >maud by how much "ranger $ci<_ i, thon >cim"" fic.;"n. how mud. mo ... incm.lihl. tho< Uni •
...... ;.'~n anything .... could possibly ha"" ;"",nl«l. LkJpil' ,hi .. h~r.... '1 r..... ofth< ",,' ~n.ary di..,., ..... ia 0f ,n., ~t ""ntury ... m to havt 'rid:JN through into the pubIX:coMcio .........
•
n.. 1_ IC/\O'tting och~m"". of lilt pas!
100 yars.rt q~.n1urn lhooliluents, .nd Ei ... ~in '. g",<'"ible. AI, bough I ha ..... od mony popular occounts of ,....., topics, , ... uplanalion, ha.,., ofkn Itll mo bam..!, """" wilh my ociplt an be in 1_ ploces at on"" to be btyond 1'" I'O""'r of physici ... to ,,,,; i, dawr>«! on melhat maybe tht ""p<'r" didn'l compltl<1y und..... nd il Ihtmod ...... In. w"f ,hi . ..... Iiberaling. Sin« a cohtmo, pic1u .. _mod not 10 .. iot, I
«.'"
• , .. liuJ th.t I had 10 pita together my own from insig,h1S !It• .-..d from .J.iff~ .. n' p«>plt. 1Ie<..... .,f ,hi •• many of ,he ... pana.io ... gi~ htK)U" ... ill 001 find anywM'e ..... [ """'" thty btlp lift..,...., or lht f"l! that . urrounJs ,he key ioJ... of modern phyoics a nd you can
,ho,
to app""';",. whot. t.r .. thtakillflly . mazing Uniwnt .... fOld ou .... lYnin. ~in
C O NTENTS
vii PARTQN[:SMALL THINGS
, , • ,
, ,
•
IItUlhing in Ein.(rin
Why God Plays IJic.o .. ilh 1M Univuse
,
"
The Schizorhr~nic Atom
UIICC"'1>in ly and tl>t Limits of Koowl«lge The T.lop. lhic Un;.. .....
"
kknlic.ln ... _nd 1he I!oo(. of Oi ......ily PARTTW0:8JGTIHNGS
'The Vealh ofSp>« and 11 ....
E. _mt! and 1M wright of Sumhi ....
•
" ,~
9
TM ForctofG ..... ityUonNOIf.xiSl
'"
10 Tb.t Ulti""'t. Rabbit Out of 0 Hot
,~
GI ..... ry
,~
Funb.tr R
,., '"
PART ONE
SMALL THINGS
BREAlHlNG IN EINSTEIN "~ .. ~OI'IIiO IIW 11'1I1mo.lI_ III IdllIoI'i ..D lUI 01lIIoI'; W IIIlIM IwPh WIW
A .\:loll,,"" ••, _ ;".
....,.....~... ""No.
IV~"......,. had an, ;"'''''''''' ~f oding
,It< WRlpolL l:Iu, !/rt, ""'" .""h ~ ,trribly ""'ubi........ "'ce. Thty ;.....1n1 on IM"f ... ". ,lit ......""'. Je• •tnt< all 0'" ./fom al '''''.IInI".... Wit.., 'hq firn! "'n, "U'''' ,,"ch, .llXtpi/t "r a..r ship. ot/!i/in8 high abo ... ,h.;, b/.w pMnt/, "." ",,';'rIa .imply 0"'. n." "",a/'l>n ...... ,im/'k bu, tffoc,i>'t. /, "i_~1 ""' all Ih,
,II"
.pa
om,..,
from "",nIT.
"""",.,,,tiI.,.
,It.
II. ,Itt <1our Si"",n cr/'t'/iriolt """,,,,;,,ttI obi",· mnIt ...... /til pri""", itt<J,J dt.,..,i";ngiy. Harolo btlit' ... ,hi, ...... <>II I4t of,he
"""'m.....-","",,,,
,ltd,
,/wi, ......
-""m"n mc?!
m.
If the kit. of ,he m,i", human ra<. fini ng into ,..,1"mt of. ,ug" cut.. .IOun< alOnu in our bodi.., humanity _uld i....t«d fit into the .pa« <>«upi«! by. ,ugo' cub..
,
• n.. appalling .mpti..... 0( alOnu is 001)' on< of tI>t 100;1<. of mott.r. An"tht •• 0( courst, i. Ihn ••iu. It woulJ l.ke ]0 million .1011" Laid tnr il may h.", Nnl • br.r.ch or I day pol-il< himodfth< '1u,,'i'>n: "If I <;\I, this in Iulf. in half again, ntf mmn- wouk! bt r<>
_""«I
,ho.
... ")' waco found by 1M
181h~tury Swi ..
,...1izN
matht""",icion lJanirlll<,.. Ih.I, although oloms ""rt impoosihl. 10
noulli. Ikrnoulli oboer>ot dirt<:lly, i, migb' "iU bt p"..ihl. to o~ thorn indir«1ly,
In parli<:u.lat, bt ,....",td Ihal if. lars< .nougb numbt, ofoloms >atd IOg .. he<,lhey mighl h.,.. . big tnOugh eff«l1O be 00v;"u. in 11'1< cvn-ycl.,. ...,.-Id, AU 1'1< nmltd w.U to find • piau in notu", whcrt ,hu ""ppe11«1. ~ found one-in 0 "gas.' II< b.ui< lhinp 0 ..... 10 'I'P'~'" lh<
""'1'1'"
,hOI foll<M On <»rntiallyo throry of ,he .tom;': "",rld.
who 110 .... rtad II>< OIom ill
abo.,
quo"''''" ",,,,,'y... hdl Is
....mUNG IN "~"'''N
,
or p .... h<J 'g.ains,,1It pi"oo of a"~am ~ngi"". WI!tn .:onfined in .ny """,.il>fl. Enctly ,hts i>duvior ,... OMcrvro by tilt EIIJ!li«. i. hoi".....! .1It ~ for tilt ..;"me. of .,""'.. I.lcspi,., ,hi. ''ICC '1' ~ .., defini'i"" .. idome from. bar. _ n ""rtr ",1m! tilt my:s .. ry of . 1It "'Y"'.n.! poll..., 5f'I.inL "Tho, bn:oklhrough hod '0 .... i' for All>..-. Einsl";n, .g. 26 .nd in lhe mob. of tilt ""..... "'pl<>fI1y did Eins";n ."..,.,hrow
,han.
wa,
• N..... 'on. suppl.nting ~Ionian i00.,. of rd.tiv;ty. but he finally p...., ..,ed the 8O-)'O• .....,IJ myotr.,. of Brownian mociGn. r ...... n fOr the , .... y Jan« of poll"" grain.. oc
n..
men! by tiny wot .. molecules. Imagine I gi.nt inn.tabl. rubber boll. ,.U.. tt.an • I"'l"IOn. brill!! puI"icul .. di~ion,wilh out.ny rcpnl for thtOlhl«ul<S.oin~ tl>< biggrr .... y ~ thr bigger would b. 111< imbal.nc, 0( foras on 11>< poIltn srain and 111< ""' ... .".gg.... ,«l ito
Tb.t frtnCh pl\y>i< pmlic60n. 0( Ein .. ,in~ thtorr. H, abl. 10 .s.,.!u« ,11< Ii.. of wat ... "",ltcules and h .mall, in f.... , if , he bill;"", upon bil~o", 0( lh<m in ••ingl, b",",h ...,.., .p ... ad Nally ,hroughou, Eal1h', a1m<>.p""",, ..... ry b",.th·';..,! ..,Ium. of ,11< "'''''''1'11<", would ... d up ron1aining ~ral 0(,,,,,," 110ms. I'u, .nothtl" way. tvtry brnlh Y"u 10k< ron,.i", a'l .... ' on< a,om b",.,hr ru~us c....ar Or Marilyn Monrot Or ....... th' 1.0 .. Tyrannosau"," Ru '0 walk Eanhl
w",.....
101"
,ha,
....mUNG IN "~"'''N
,
Wha, is mort, Iht .. om. of Earlh', ·bio.pht.. • a .. colUlan,ly rrqcl.,L Whtn an "'Pnism d~ il .l.oil and ,he .. """pbtrt 10 bt incorporalN in", pion" .ha•• ~"n byanimalund hum.n~ "" urb<>n .",m in my car.J.i.., musde was ""..,. in Iht lail of. din<><>.ur: wrilts Norwe· gi. n """"list ""'ein Gaa.u .. in Sopllie', W....Jd. _ni.n "" " ;"" w .. ,ht mOil. po"df..J ....;&nu foclht ex;"· m« of .,0..... Nob<>cly wll<> p•• rod down a microoco~ and Ja'" ,he cru, dan..,. of poU~n grai ... "nd.... Imllt.. bomb.:ordmml could d""b,ilial.ht ...,rld ..... ul'i ma'ely mode from ' iny. l,ull .. like po ... liel... Hul watching jillrry polltn 8Ui~ht
,.1.,...
'Of _ . d..,. .. "" woy . ,..,.&. can ..,."'Iy fed . ,wfoc< human pbc
M~'"
an.
~lo:r.
''''-w,. if Ill. _ . is choflll"l willi "«Irieily &nd
""'tmtIy <100< ",. roo.do.cti", .wfa
.. «1 • .,"" ..... ,' ..1" ,he ~ bt ......... 'htripoftho
n«dI •• nd ,he .",foc<. h is ."""'" ... '''''' .... i''ll "'mnl, and i, ha. 0 :pioiltd, Tht oiu of ,he «dl< on orlillcial om .. of_ct..
..
,he,,,,, ntIi"_ '" '.....' t >t"""" ,..,..,...
• Of CO"rs<, 1M", is. bit mor •• o itlhan thaI. Al.hooth lht principlo <>f t M i~li"" wu.impl •. Iht",~. r",mi< Jilftrr"r .d..,,,,,, ... nking along.ide ,hal of Earlh rioin! above I'" groy dtwlalion of lht Moon or 1M 'Io'ttping opi",,] ... i,..,... 0( UNA. Moms lookJ lik tiny 00«<'1" bolb. They look.!. lik ""'",... ot>cktd in I>ous, ~ "" row. lIul mOIl. of all lhty looked lik<."" tiny h. ro grains of n,aU" , h.1 L>emocriIU' had Ken $0 c10arly in hi' minJ', C!"'.l..OO btfon>. No 0'"'.1« has <"Vtr rno.k. predic_ Ii"" lha. for in odvara of aperi",mlol c""lirmalion. lIut only on< ,i& of 1M .tOm was , ...... I..! by tho< STM. AI. t:.o.""",i.1U him ..lf had ,..Jiz«!.• tom, _ ... k>' ~ ,han .imply 'iny~... i... in , .... 1< .. 1OO,ion.
Y""'"
NA1\IRE'S LEGO BRICKS
naturt-' Lc~ bricks. Tb.ty rome in a ... riy<J and only trnct l"osN nn to ,uecttd. oI.tom<.· n.c, ~y step in proving """,.are na,ure'. Lego brkks ..... identifying the dill...... t lcin.t. oI.t""'<. H.".."..,. the fac t tha,.toms ..... re far '00 small 10 be perctivtd din:c,lyby ,he ....... made ,he .. !k At"""
.,~
0"" ....
8.""..
,ho,
,
.....,,""" '" E'~"'U"
IN'-
• ....,. bi, .. formidmlo .. prO\ling 'hat a'o ..... won ,iny i!J'Iinsof '" in « ...1.... m<>tioo. Tho only _y '" iden'ify differen' typn <>f .,""'. wu,o find sub".ncn ma.k o:chuivdyou, of ..om, of. singl. kind. In 1789 ,he Fn'nch .ri"oa-o' An,oin. I.;""i..., compiItJ 0 ~"of ,ubo'. nces 'hOI he beli."",, could not, by any m.a .... bo broken down in'o .impl<curring oJ.m.n, .. from hyJrogon, tho ligh ...t, 10 uranium, ,he h.."i.. t. tlu, wha, makes 0 ... . 'om diff....." from al>O,he,~ for ins ... n«, how don • hyJ",!!rn .,"'" diff.,,- !"rom • uranium Tho .ns.... , """'kI co .... only by probing ,heir ;n,ernal "'uc'u ..... Bu, alOnu ar. IO fantu,;ally small. l' l<"<m«l impos&ibl. ,ha' 011)"0'" ,""uld ..... , find. W2f ,<> k>ok i"';.1....... lIu, on< man Jid_ Now Z
,!\,a, .......
.,""'!
Tti£ MOTIIINTHECATIlEDRAL
Tho phenomel>On ,ha,l.id bare ,he mUCInre of 110m' was radioac· 'ivity. di.lcov<ml by tho Frmch chcrnisi H.nri lI«quII m"!Y' I"""iubiy, .fro, • "",on.! 0' • yn' or I millioo )'Oars. i, shed, ,hi. surplus .... rgy by <XJ>tI~ng """'" kind of partido ., high ,p« ..y i, di,in"gra''', 0' •Jt.cay.; in,o an "om of. ung Gtnna n physicisi H.ns ~ig<' dt"",,,,,ratN was .im· ply In atom of helium, ,he stCOnd lightes' anor hyJ"'I!m.
,ha,
.Ie"",.,
" In 1IlOJ, Ru,htrford had ....... UrN 1M sp«
25.,000 kilo"""" ptr .... ond-IOO'OOO Ii",.. fo.skr than a p........,day possen! .. j ... H...., lI.u' ...... ford ~.U..,J, was. ~«1 bulle!!o .m.... into atom< ar..I r~ wlu.l was d«p iruid •• n.. ide..... "",pie. fire alplo.a particles into an alom. If they ."""un'.....! ''')'Ihin, Iu.rJ blocking thki'l ... moJ Er ...... ~brsJon.lheir·.lph. scan""nS" uptrimnu u
,,
,,
...."'UNG 'N "~"'IJN
"
nm" IMn, lht n
w,
'08",11<" No,I""g afier'Mdiocovbt of pruili", chargt, The .Ipha particks ,hal Geig..- and Mal'Sy :llTangemen" on ,he other hand, ~,.., un .. op· p.bI •• ul»'orni< "p,... ,,..i,,.,.ach .. he....,. a. arouOO 8,000 <1«. ,ron .. The chance of,uch. rna .. i", pa" ick being wildly del1
'0
'0
,hei,
.,orn
'er
"'I'
.0
of standi", up to a moss;"" alpha pa"icl~ without bting knockcrcforc had 10 ",n'a in mo", th.n 99.9 ~n. o(.he •• om·.m .... ' The nucl,u ...... vn-y, _1 .iny. Only if natu'" ...amrnN a 1",# po';tiv. play Ha/'f!JO
""la,
'twnlWllly, phyUciol< woold di ocow, tha, .ho n ""I<", rotIuin, IWO par· ,d<S' 1"'<;'i...-ly du«, h .. OM prot<><> .. il< ""'...... 00 ."niurn. whopp",," 91.
p.,••,....
,lvi,
.)'1,....
....m"1''' 'I' "~"'''I'
"
Wha • • ubslara an ",om p<>SO<ssN residy. mann iuprtaJ u ' ....ndl' .hinll'.1f i. ........ ]>0<,iblo '0 """""'" ou, all, ....... 'Plu..... ply spo«, m."", would tak up h.nlly any room •• aU. In rae ••• hi, is p118"' cube probably Jo." "'" nisI. a w;ry don ",is, 10 "Iu ... ", the ma".r of a massi", OIar in.o .1Ie .malla' voIum. poosibl •. The squ<,< atom .. a mini •• u.... solar .,..tnging i,. ~ or dir«lion of motion, it gi ...... ou' d«trollU3netic ... ,es-~gh •. An d«tron;, a ch.rgnl partide. AI. i, ci .. lo • • nudeu .. i, pu ""ually ch.nges its direction; >0 it oho"ld act li« a min;;"",", lighiliousc, "".. tanlly broaJeuling l~ht wa ...... into spa< tntrgy raJi .. nl •• I~h. has 10 come from..,.,..,· wher •• anJ it can only rom. from the .Ir<;'ron iuclf. s.p~ con' ina· Illy of e"'''gy, i. should spiral ..... do .... 1<, tl>< Cftlt... of the atom. Cokul.,ion. ~ it would cotli~ wi,h t'" nudeus within.
,n.,
's.. OIapler 4. "Uncenal,"l' and the Limits of Know\Nge."
" m~'"
hundrtd-miUionlh or.
~d.
By riSh, .. "oms should 001
oxi ...
But Ole_do ",,;.c. We and 1M ""rid around u•• rr proof tn""5h of thot. For from npiring in • hundreJ_mill;"nlh of. o«onJ, atoms h.>vt .
billi"" ~ars ago. Some crudal ingredient mu.t be missing from RulhmorJ'. piclun' of tho . tom. That i"l!M.!;"nt is • rnuiuli"...,y
now kind of physics-<.j .. nlurn theory.
WHY GOD PLAYS DICE
WITH THE UNIVERSE How III
_,n nw
MIIi!"
nn WOIUU' 'lOllS
...... HlllIIlliSOIlJ AI,
JI 1'Io;!o..plorr - . .. 01. ' /. ;,. - . . - , "" ,10< ....., .... ,,"" of.o...... tIoo, tII ... _
'r',2025 QJtd hig~ on" dtsoI<J" ",,,,,main,,,,, Q l iaM! ,00-......... ,.1<""P' ,nod< ,,""'.,.] 'ht nigh •• q. It !«bOnl" Q P"""'I"W:r ", twtdgr of'lo<: ob1cwbie Un;...,... a,.,j frtbk ligh., "'hkh IIa.< b..,,, 'nwtli"8 ,h",.gh If'<'<e ...""
'''''8 btfotr &If'/h "'" bo, ... is """""'trnk'J ~r !he
.&«:0/" mirror on'" uI' ....." ...ti .. .wCfnm;c ,kuaon. In>i.k 1M uk· '"~ do""" _ltd at a "",InI""".1 "", unla. 'he unHit of 1M ,,,,,,hip Ent..,.p~. lit. a_."..." "",rd! Q fuzzy imax< of 1M 8"'1""1 jn'" ,,;..,."" a "''''';IOr. So_,tnt Iwm. "1''' ..uJ.ptdUr and a dtafrwinK rn>YTTd'pr/" of
.wi'"
"""1"""
fi"'
de"."""
"""<.
To
'hn< a
~nJ
lI"';r ca.ur ••tnining '0 ... thr
"",ko.. soon:cs of light in .he Uni ..,...., it i. ...If·..,.iJl
"
" light is • ",urn or tiny buU<1lik.< ponicln-poolons. No! long "S"
C()IIImuni'y haJ ,<> be dnwJ kicking and """,amingto an acctpt.nc. of this id ••. In (0<,. if ' f.i, 10 say lhallht di",o~ry ~"'1 com .. in discrete < hi .."ry or scitnu. It """"plOw,oy the security blonktt of pre-20lh-century Kiene. and ex ...... d physiC;It. 10 "'" h.on h .alioy of an Mic.;w IlI>n.... ''''''J uni ...... wh< .. things hap~n boa .... lhty happm. with un .. dist.gar<"l'd""ri< off"" i. thaI . .....,n if • ,...,.y wNk li&hl i. uoN. II.. ri""rono or. kicktd ou' of'h< mwo! ins"n1.ntOIJ.>ly-,h .. is, wi,h no
,ho,
'0
'Anolht, iJX< ...."" charactl«l.". 1"", with.
bc1_. '""""i.....'"
~t.---. m..,"", 01 ,I>< d4 .. _
!.ish' .......n '""'"fJY"'" ""'-. widr inc...... """"
«""'" wav
" the ol«lron. could ..';ly "" nnin<J 10 min"ln or so .ft .... lighl i, , ....... on the m«ol. So how i. it J'O"ihie Wilhe tl«lrons art xicktJ Ou1 of lht mtlOl instan ....... ouIy! ~ to only 0 ... way-if each electron is kickJ. out of the motal by Q "nJk /"Irlidt oflight. E~n monge ... i~no: Ihlu light con';,.. of tiny bulledike por· lid.scom .. from tl>< Compton di"«'I. Whrn r< . . pos<J to X·r~ high-olcrgy kind of lig./ll-lhey recoil in cxaclly III< woy they """,1<1 if lhty ..... ,., billiard NIl, bting"rue\:; by <>Iho, biW.rd
bali •. On the surface, 1M disc"""'1' lhallight bthavn ~k< ........ m of 'iny p.orlicles .... y no! oppo" ""'Y """,ubbl. or surprUin!_Hut it is. The ,.....," i. Wlll>tt. i•• "" abundant and compd~n8 tvideno: thai light .. something as diff.reI" from a me.m of !",'Iides as il is poMiblelO irnagi...-. w....,. RIPPW ON ASEAOFSPACE AI III< bqinning of III< l'JIh «nluI)'. II>< EngJi
f.""""
V"ung. for JowdinS Iht Root, .. >1" ... jnolopendtndy "r tho FmlChrnan 'un Fran.,.,uo..mpoUion. looi. an opoq"" .o1 of . singlt color onto lhtrn. If light ""''''. wavt. M ",a!OM.!...,h slit would servt as a now _ra of .... va. which would 'P"'oJ oUI on 1M IiIr
.iJc allM
""1ft" likt CO""'nl riC rippl.. on • pooo.
" " .. rocleri"k property exhibited by wav.. i. interference. Wlltn lW<> ';milar waves p"'1h",,,,h each other.1i>ty reinfora each o.her ~ Ihe unl al 0", waY< winc;.b wilh Ihe c"''' of anOlMr. 000 Ihry c."",1 ooch Olher out ",herolho <usl of 0 ... coinciJes wilh Ihe lrough of tl>o Olher. Look ... potddle during . ",in shoWo palh al tl>o light <m"lling from hi< twO oIi1< Young inler· poKd a o
" nl,i", dark aooligh! "",,,Ical 'Irip<'S. much lik ,I>< lines on a "'1'<"-
mork .. b.r oodo. Thi. in'.n.",,,,,, p.mern P~'I> "" ,he ir .. fut _ .blt tvidtl'>Ct th.t li8hl "'as .......,. IVht .. lht ~5hl ,ippln from ttlt slito _'" in '!nS; ",1Itr. !My out nr.ll.". !he ~&hl ..... ,."",Itd Out. Using hi. "double .lit" .1'1'. .. , .... Young"'" abk lO ~t... mine .Il< lnVO:l< nut two ,..,turin. Y",mJ" pie,,,,,, ofligh. as ripI''''" on I st. ol 'Pace "'ignN s uprtm< in •• plaining III ""OW" phtnom."" involving 1igh'_ But by ,he end of .... 19th ""nlury, ,,,,uble was b",wing. Al1ho"llh kw plOplt notiet«t. maner.
'WI)
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w_
lWO FACFSQFASINGLECOIN Tho in •.,..,,;"n be1~ light . n.! nult.,. i. of cruci.1 imp<>rl>n« '" th . .,.,ryd.,. worlJ. If the "onu in tht fiLam.n t of. bub did IIOt .pit out light, ..... cooW not mumi ... t. our bomn. If tho . lOm. in tho ... tin. of your.,.. did IIOt absorb light. )'Ju wool.! b< un.ble to r .... impo .... bl< t(} unJ.",""" if ~gh, i•• w;n... lin alom highly Iocali2.C"d thing. "",finN to. tiny ... gion of 'pau, who ...... light w.~ i, • 'pr<>rW by an >tom , how .I_ . uch • big Ihing m .... g. to kfutt"tt inlo . uch • tiny Ihing? And ...... n light i.emittod by an alOm, howdoto """II thing m...,..ge to rough Out such • boJ! thin81 Common ......... yo that tho only _y lighl can be .boorW or emitt""! by . "".11 localized 'hing i. ifi! tOO it. "".!Uocalized thing. " Nothing fits in.ide •• nak< lik< anotller .... ke," .. the saying goa.
i,.
,w:b.
" Ught, howe ...", i. I:nown 10 I>< • wa .... Tho oolf ""a)' out of !hot co-
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nundrum _ . f.,.. rhr>i< simullaneoouty Iocali"d an.! op......wut! In ,he nttyJ.ay world. this is pnfc.:tly trat. Qucially. h~r. we art no1 ,.Iking aboutth< evric ""rid of Itoms.1Id pholOO. tum. OIIt 10 I>< no.hinglikt \"" f.mili., , •• Im of trtn.oo clou..u.oo pwpl<. Sin~ it J""",in millions of .im.. omal1... th.n ,he ,.,.Jm of f.mili.r obj«ts. why should it I>< phyPri ... of 'he ..,Iy 20th ctllI,,'Y to occ, Wt< W;lvt thtory and on Thtoday .. TIturS and Sa,,,rday. tht
i,.
p.rticle thtory:;ok1 WiIIi. m IIr-.gg in ,'21. Brag" pn,!;ma,i'm ...... admirable. Unfortuna,tly. i, w.o nOl mough to >ave physics from dioast<. It ..... 001 iout impoooible '0 .is\Ialiu, ~ ..... compl<1e1y incompa,ible wi,h .11 ph)'>· ia ,ha, had gone btfurt.
w.....
w".
WAVING GOODBYE TO CERTAINTY Tilk<. "';ndow. If)'O" look closely)'O" con ' " . f.i n, rtfltclion of )'0'" fact. TIti, i, boca"se gJuo i, 00' perftcdy , ... nsp.rtn,. It 'rans· mits 9S pet"'n' of , I>< light .linking i, while ",fltcting ,I>< ",. maining S percent. If Iigh' i, • wave, thi' i, perfte,ly e.,y '0
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• ~nJ .... tanJ. Th<
"'..... imply split. into a bi8 w.... thaI ~ ,IIm",1I lhe window • ..J • much ..".J\or ....", that """'" bo.ck. Think <:L the bow ........ from up«Jboot If it .ncounl .... a h.lf-sul>mtrgtd pita or dril'twox>J,. I.". p;trt oft'" wavr "".uin .... on iu way whil, • • mall par1 Jouhl.. bad On ;15o<1f. But while 1hi. ~vior i • .... y to und ...... nd if light i. a ~, i1 i. al=ndy Ji/f1CU1l1O unJ.",.nd if light i•• " .... m t5O"",.pot at 1ht Nd of "".I.ll~ b.anllo ;""'5;"" 'h, majority of ,h. balls ptpptr_ ing 1h... me .pot while. minorily fli •• off 10 ,he cor ... , nag. How. tt.<",;. i1 rossihlelha' •• lr .. rn olabsolultly iJmtical pholonsan impinge"" I window and 95 p< .~yworld---1l dimini.hN,C\t,-down m.anlng. In ,I>< m~pic dom.in, i, 'um. out. ;d~aJ. ,I>duving in any particul"r way. Each iOOividual photon orriving at ,I>< wiOOow h.. COKtly ,I>< same ""'''''' of ~ng 'rammil1t< JaIM afhting ~n.c,toloo. W"'t~ it i. tr'Il>mint< .arly 20th cen,ury. this unprtdicl2biUty OOn><,hi"l! radically ""'" in lh< WO< wbod 'pill>, W"hinkof'I>< numb.. ,I>< IxIU com .. 10 ... ' OIl wh< ;ni,;ollr' ;":-
,""II«
w"
tory of the ball, tilt initial >p«d of tilt whtd, tho ""')' tho air CUrmlU clu.ngttl &om i...tant i..... n. in tht <:Uino, anJ '" on, tilt lows of ph~ia could be u«oJ to pmli< "'" of. coin io that","" is >imply too mudt informillioo for us tol.l:t inlOaccounL llul in principlt--ooo this is tl>< key poin.-d.... is nothinS to 1"""<'" us &om p..&:tlnS hod>. Conlra.t this with t l>< microsrop;c worlJ (jf photoo~ It m.tt.rS no. the .Iight •• t how much inform .. ;"n we ha .. in our I"' ..... i"". It is impoosiblt t(j pr.dict wh< dmi..... of tilt microscopic .... Im." bomb d<. t""Nn 0 ... Ihat ,",."" atcs . t this "",ment and an iden.ial • •om that "",iu ~ui<1Jy (or 10 million yurS bd'ort blowilll! itself 10 pi=<. 'Tht . ho<:l< wholt Uni... ,.. i. foonIud OUt his lip a OO J«brnl: "God do.< nOl pi.,. dice with tht Uni ....... l· The .roubl. i. He does. lis ilrili.h ph)'fici>l Stephtn Hawkilll! h.. wryly point.,] out: "Not only do.
.0
Whm EilUt';n tl:'CtivN th, Nobd Pri.. fOr ""ysics in 1911 it wall n<>l fQr hi, m"" f."""" t htory of «lot ivit y but f"r his apla .....tio n of tht pbototltctric '1f«1. And this was "" .btrralion on tbt p..t oftht Nobd commi nte. Ei nst'; n h im .. lf co nsio.ltr..J hi • ...,.k 0 n tht · q wontum"th, "nly thin~ ht nTr dMl in ..,inlet that ..... truly moIuti"n_ ary. "ndtht N<>bd ne bt· f"",. Physics, p",·I'.IOO, wall buically a recipe for pr..Jicting tht futu", with ab5olut. ""n.in.y. If. pbnet is in. p.nimlar pIaL. now. in. clay'. ti".. ~ will h.... Rt<»'N 10 .nOlhtr pbct. which can bt p"'die.ed with 100 pertent <:onfldene<: by using Newton', 10... of motion and .ht I... of ~ity. Contrasl this witJt an ""m flying thro",h .pae<:. N<>thing i, knowable with e<:n.inty. "II .... can nTr pr..Jict i, i1< probable poth. i1< probable fin&! pOiliti"". whtrt .. 'lWOnlum i. booed on uncC1"tainty, tht ",,, of physic. i. butd on <.. wnty. To uy tltis isa problem fur pltysi""" iso bit of on und..,tat."",nt! ·~hys iQ It.. 8i~ up on the problem of trying to pr..Jic1 what wolllcl happen in 0 gi~ circunutane<:; .. id Richard F.)TIman. 'We can only pr""ic1 tht odds.' AU is nOlinot. I>owt... r. If the mic"""",1d w.... '''tally unprnlictable, it WQIIId bt ..... Im "f tOlaI nl' and tbtir likr gct up t" is inlriruic.lIy unrrtdietoble, it turru ".n that tht unpredict.bWty i. at Ie.. t predictable! PREDICTING TIlE UNPREDICTABIUTY Think of tht wind_ ag.in. Each phooon has. 95 perctn. <.... IK. of bring transmitt"" and. S per""1 du.ne<:"fbring rtfl«ttd Hut what Jeterm; ..... t..... probabiliti.,! wdJ. tbt lwo din'ertnt pict.,," ollight--as 0 particle and o. 0 wave-must produce the .. me ou.come. If half th. w. ... goes through and half i1 rtfIect<"
• probability of ""illi l~nsmillN onJ • ~ ptrCtnt probability of beins mk<1 .. flea,.. lil« .......... as "",UI ~ i. ptrf«t .ymm.try. In {"t. in • ..".. ,hi> ""nn..,1 is aU you n«d 10 know .bout ~ .... ntum lhfilry ('por, from 0 rew deI.ils). E~hing 01 .. follows "1U""MhbIy_All ,h. wrinln .... a11lht amazing rich"... of lht microscopic """id. i •• direct of this w;we-p."icJ. "d ... li'1· of the basic building block< of ,..Jily. 1M how in .. tho .."", ti"",_ So when "" ~ li~1 "" a "rnm .,r particlts, I ..... i< no wave in aio1vt lhe p.obkm in a p<'CU~" way. In t he .boom", .,r a rnI ........ , lhey imagi ..... n ab... ract .............. mathematical w..... If this oout>ds ludicrous. thi ....... putty much tilt ",action .,r physici .... whm the idea ...... firs' propo,w by ,he A....'ri.n phyo.i
""""how
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"I'<'<'
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u prohobility dlrimn
n..r. ....
_nl.,
plo«.
n.. fact thaI it i. 1M "lUI'" "r,he prob.ability w .... aM""" tilt prob.bility"''''' itself 'hal h.. ",.1 physiul meaning to this .L.y co"", plc ra"" the lan tr. no.. probability wa •• is cruciilly important btcaux it makes . ronna:,;"n b<.WUJI thr ,.,,,.. Kk.. upect of rna" ... ano.l familiar wavcs "fall kin.u. from w;a, .... waves sound ~ 10 .. r1hquakr waves. All ob
'0
'hrough '1'"'" a nd .IIow, phy,ici", to prtdi<1lhe ..."" heigh, at any \O;:;01ion al any tim •. Schr&lins< Schrllding .... "lual"", il i. poooibl< '0 do'.,min"he probability of finding 0 particl< at any I",at;"n in 'poc< at any t im<. For i...,an«, il can bt used 10 describt p!>olons impinging on Ih. obAacl< of. wir>dowp .... and 10 pmli<1lhe 95 peranl probabilily of finding 0 ... on the fa,.kIt of tho pan •. In fact, the SChrMing.... "I""tion can he ....-.llo pttdiCl tho probobilit y of a ny p'r1ick. bt il • photon or an alOm, doingj ... t about anything. II provido. the ,,,,d.1 boos< 10 lhe mic""""l'H: ...".W, , lIowing phl"ici'l> 10 pmlict ''''''y_ ,h;ng ,h., h,pp1 with prrui"abl< unc.rtainly!
• Wh.", is .U this tall: of prob,ability ....... I..di",! W.U. !M fOCI ,h., ....YeS beh .... lik p;tn"," in 11>0 m;';"""",;'; world 1...& un · rvoidIbly to 1M , .. liulion thal.1>< microo<:opH: world td by ",ndorn unpr<'<.lictabil i1y. Ttti. in iudf was • .!hon tha. all thr thing. that famil;.., W2V", lik. _t.r W",,", and sound "'...... an Jo. so tOO an til< probability .... ve> ,h. , infonn lht b<+w..ior of . "'..... pho"' ..... nollh tur ru OUt to h••• • semi-m; rae ulous 00"""'1""_ in II>< micro«opic _fil. Ttl< rn<> placn at on"", th< Njuiwl"nt of ftlU bo.i"l! in wndon .nJ Nnv York ., 'M $am< ,i"",.
"""""hod,
THE SCHIZOPHRENIC ATOM
If,.,.. i....,m. riot difJt" .."
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.. - ,. ., . , ..... I!.rown
hn/,,,,,...
11'.1041. A. bcr si" a, " "' ,"pU'" in hiJ It~ "or an ~rJjn .. ,., "'''puler. /,', II "''"P"t.... TN boy glvn'~ """',..,,,, II ..1ot comp"'... .lown and g«s ow/ I" pi"" hiJ "ip.l~ h..........,rI: Jone.
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"........ ""'lots
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Su~ly,
no computercouk! po .. iblydo wh.,.,," boy'.comP"'''' has ju" .1"",,1 Not only could • «>rnpu ... Jo .w:h • thing.aO&.by_ The only thing in Ji.pul< i. wh<'h<1... 0. illil.rally ""ploit. th. computing 1'0"'"' of multiple copits of it ..lf ..isting in po ..IJ.1
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TIl. O<:lIll.OI'Il"-'''1C Am ..
Th. k< abili,y '0 do many cakul.,ion... on~oIl_. di,...;tly from two Ihingo ,h., """'in and Ihnd"",.., microscopic p.rt idts suc h os .. om •• nd ph<>Ion .. which boho ... like _'<>--<:an do. n.. fi ..., of ,ho.. Ihing. can bo><.,....of ocnn """ .... On II>< o«on ,hor< art t.o.h big w..... at>d ""on rippln, Bu, .. • n)"On<" who has w.tchN • hury on On • h«.. you can II!" go,big, roUing wa .... wilh ,iny rippl ...... p<1"impo><J on ,h.m. Thi. is a g.., ....1pl"Of'. If '10'0 iliff... n, ........ can mot . .., I"" can. ""mbi .... ,ion, 0' . uporpooilion. ofth< wa_ n.. fOCI ,ha, .... porpmi,;on. can i. pulty innocuous in ,I>< NOryday world. H.,.,.....,., in lho world of atom. anJ ,hoi, COOS'il ....... , i.. im· plications art nothinJ .hart of . arth.,holt.ri",. Think apin of. pho,on in'pinging on a winoJowplIn •. n.. pho· ,on is informW .boul wha"o do by. probabili, y """"".< pho,on can ';,h ... "" ,ran.."i, · ,..I or ml«'N, th< Schrodinll"r < pho,on hound", Nck. Nothing .urprising hort. Howov ..., rt"",m"", ,hoI, if IWO wa .... Ort pormiltN '0 nis'.' ,uporpooi,ion of 'hnn i. also pormil'N '0 Fo, ...".... at ... ouch. con,bina,ion i. no,hing oul of ,h. ol\linary. 8u, h.rr.,1>< < photon boi", bo,h ""n..,,ined anJ rtOoe,N. In 011><, th< photon COlI ho on bo,h ,HI .. of ,h. win
.xi"
.xi".
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And 'his unbtlk-v.l>I. p,..rty foil""" uno",idobly from ju", '10'0 &,:", ,ho, photo ... art d<s art pouii>k. This i, no tho:o«Iicol fantasy. In ~rirncn .. i, i, OCIually poo. ,ibl.,o ot...r"" a photon or an atom Ming in '10'0 placn at once--th< .>«rydoy
i. no limil 10 III<- number of wa"" Ihal c.n bt ."l'C"p"....t. photon or an ",om can be in th~ ploo;n, 10 placn.. million places .. on"". BullM probahilily wa~ :wocial«l with. miao"""pic particl~ does m= thon inform it ""'""" it could be l<>M'td. I, inform. it bow tt>h<'hawin all riffi"... '.r",,, tdlin~ a photon. for inotan"". wbdhtt or not to be t ..... min«l or rrilect«l by a ron. of glass. Con""'luenlly. alom. and thooirliu IIcle,ning the h<>w<. walking the dog, and doing the....n.ly .upermarkot .hopping IU at the .. m. time. Thil i.,hoo _"" behind 'M pn>digK"" ~r of. qUln_ 'um romp"ler. It apl"''' the ability of .to"", to do many thing>.t on«. to do many calC\lIa,iono a' ona.
""a.
DOING MANY THINGS AT ONCE The twk elemen" of • conventional compu, .. a", ,ran.istors. Th ..... nt • larg.t number. which in the comp",er call be add«l •• ubtr2d d;pr ..." ....... 0 ''"' ..... d;~;1 ,I\< "' ..... I,", 10 . 1(1o,.nd >oon. So. fo,. ; .... _ . 9,2 17 ma .... 7 + I • 10. I x (10 . 10) + 9x (10 x 10 x 10). In binat)'.orbo., the ..... ditt;it the 1W«, I.IOJ m...... I .O x l+ I x (2 x l) + I x (l x l • 2). whOdt in d«imoI ~ I J.
If>.,.,..
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TIl . ""IIIWI'II .... "'" Am..
On. 'l"bil an bo in lwo SI ..., (0 nr I). Iwn qub~. in four (00 or 01 or 10 or II ).Ih,«, qubi1t in oighl. and 00 on. O>~Urn .. Young in ,he 18,h ,"'''ury .... the ~ oh
li"",.
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INTERfERENCE IS TIlE KEY In ,he mo ~n running for. while. lhe detea"" show oom .. hil\3 remarkabl •. Som. plactO 00 ,he ocr .... gCl pq>~rNl ",i,h pbocons while or""," pl. ..... n compl .. ely ovokl..!, What i. mon. ,he plac ... ' ha' art: pep~r..! by pholon • • nd lhe pl:>
,ho,
• NOO •• " cau.s.t<. EM" pilot,," ;. comr1ttdy lIone. wilh no otbCT ph"''''' t<> mingle wi1h. How, lhen, can there be .ny ime.rcuJ>Ctt How can it ~ wh< .. its fdlow photon. ,.ill 10001 There ,""uld '~"10 b< only on. way-if caeh pIIolOn tomeIIow I!O<S through ~h slil. ,imul tll'ltOll$ly. n."" i1 can in1m.,., wilh i... lf. In word.., _" rho''''' m ...' be in I ,uperpo.i'i"" "r two SI.l ••-{>" u ....... corresponding 10. pholon going Ihrough lht loflh.noI ,lit anJ lho "l~' ~ CO ...... p"Ming to • pho''''' going through lht right_h.nd ,Ii !. n.. double ,iiI expmmenl can be don. wilh pilot"'" or .Wms Or any othn micros.copic pa,tid... 11 ' ' - 5 ... phically how lht boo· !lavi.... of .uell panicles-where they can .1I<=Il-;'or. Hut this ;. not all ,I>< double .lit r< arry OUt l,oZ4 akubtions . t 00<,. lIut .11 tl>< parallel " .. nds of a aleu.ltion ..~ of absolutely no u" unless Ihty!., ""'...., IOgel htr. In"rftttnu i. tht m.... by which thiJ iJ oeo>mpli>hoJ. It is til< m ..... by wh;dJ til< 1.024 or tht .upttpG.ition cln in ......, and influtne ••I
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Think of a probltm diviJed inlo 1.024 stpara,~ pieces and 0". pet l"uem, from which ... inftr,Iu, a" d«'''''' was in. su""rp<>Si,ion;n which i, .... nl .hnmgh b<>th olits Jimul· I.noou
<;.,.
'0
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M ULTIPLE UNIVERSf5
Th.... ~i ... ry ability of q.... nlum oompu" " 10 do . normo .... num Mrs of ak"lalion •• imullanoo.",y posn a puu It. Though prac.koI q""n,um oompu'." . .. CUITm'Iy at • prim i.; ... ,,:age, "",nipu· lating only a lundful of qubilS, i, is ncvnthdr:u "".. iblt 10 im_gin_. quan,um cOOIpu'tr'lu, an do billions. 'rillm. or qUlldriliion. of calc .... oimWtanrou"y. In fac •• il i. quilt pouiblt llu. in JO or 40 yea ..... win "" obit 10 buikJ . q .... nlum oomp
'ion.
alld ,cali,i.. or univtna. Th< idr. gOts bloCk to. Princt10n gradu." O1udrnt na",..J Hugh E""rw III. who. in 1957. W<)OO~ why quan_ tum lhto,y is such. brilliant dtllCription of tM microocopie ,.",-Jd of .tom, but"" """"r actually 0« "'p othhoulol remember when de.ling with pa.-..llel uni""ruo. On<. thtyh not ....11y pa.-..lld. and two, they· ... no, .... llyun;........!Dt
•
TI" OCII,WI'I'UN'" AW..
mort oonllttl,iona] i"'.rp"""ions of quan,um '1Iwry-,h.nt ~""n · 'urn < Sun. Th.:y ... wry fin, madti .... hwnans h,a"" ..... built ,h., ""pioi, _'as of mukipl . . .ali,i ... E,..n if you <10 "'" be:U ..... ,h. Many Wo,lI. id.... i, ,,;n pm, ;.I«. 'imple and in'ui' iv ....,. of irn..gining wit .. i, going on in myst.rioos ,!",,",um worlJ, For insuno:, in ,h. doubl. oii, ap<, photon,)'Ou .. k? A rOOlOn in a nrighboring uni ....... of oou ... 1
,he
,he ",.
,he
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m.,.
WHY AREONLYSMAU TH1NGSQ UANTUMI l,luaJI,um rompu ..... art ""'''''''< rras.on is ,ha, abili,y of individual " .... 0( 0 quan,um superposi'ion '0 in,.rf... wi,h.ad. O'M is d«troy..J. Or on< vividly - " in ,I>< douhlo .~, ""peri..,.OI. [f ..,mt l«l to a particl. going 'hrough on< of II>< ,lits.,ho in .. rkrtno: stripes on 'ho 0< world. KnowINg< of 'he .uperposition by II>< OII,>ide ..,rId i, all is n..,.J.,J '0 de"roy i,. It is if qu.nl um .uperpositioliS.rt.:I«rtt. Of COlI .... once ,he wo,ld Knows ,he ...,... , lhe """'" "" long... ais..! Suptrpositio ... a rt cOl"jnw~ll, being ,",,",um! by thtir .nviron· menl. And i,ukes only. single photon '0 OOUII« off. 'UptrpOoil ion
,he
,he
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and tal;" infOrmation ooout it to tho .... t of tl>< world to dntroy tho ,uporpo,ition. T hi. pr"", .. of nat"<>.1 m, .. u~m,n' i, callod ~ho~nc'.It;' tho ultimot. nason ... do oot..., ... inJ ~u."tum behav;"r in tho ,~y world.' "'lthough n.i .... ly ... m.y,bink of qu.antum bth.. io, ... P"'P""ty of small tbil1&S liM .tom. but not of big things lik< pwpl, .nd ,rp. Tiwo rnson ....,..., it in tho microocopic world but oot in the ~ryday world i, ,imply Mea... it i, , .. i... to i",l.t, a ,moll thing from its surroundings than .big'hing. TIt.< prict of . ;. tl><>I.tion ..... Ion, ... mkrol«ond. Kins!< photon bounctO off ttlc romput .... 10 ochizophrenic al""" in'tantly bt<:om, 10 onlinary
00'
"""'0.
'I am ,otaI.l y -..-. that aU ,hi> talk of q.""t."",... b<-inS •• ...,..... ,hat i,dr$tm,.-d i(,ho ... , ofth< world 1<..". obolu., i' ;" romplrt< fudgt. Bu, it io ",ffia.:nt fO< 0", dio< q .... t. m -.:I. wi th it> > 'I><..-.rydoy
"N'
""'<0 .. .
world .......... .nrI< .r< ""'" in '""" pIo<.. at a n of wo,m , with which tho r ...... upU""ion._ a..1'I<' So 'Th, T
•
TIl. OCIIIWI'II"-'N'" Am..
lI«oMrtnet ilIlIO,ra,n I limi1a1ion of 'l""nlum compu .." 110' ofi~n publici« .. trl Min,; an <>nJjn.Uf rompu .. r in •• in" ....... A lO""d_ Nevtnl>dess. wh .... prohl .... i. r""oJ ,hoi ploy< '0 lh< ~ .. ngW of. qu.an'um ''''"pul..-> can m"';""ly oU'p< lifdim< of the Uni ......... On the ",I><, hondo J.cohn-r .uch • machi"". n.. world or the quan,um i. il>.ktd • paraJoricai
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UNCERTAINTY AND THE liMITS OF KNOWLEDGE Wtrr IllIAII .VII OOW'l.l1l! WOIIUI UIlIll _ _ AIlIIIS I ... nl llIIS.on .... ~ UOIIS I'IMIIII
...
"""m,.fo"~ 1Io"""h rio. _,,"''" Io...! ..................., 9";" • "" of ..1m "'
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fl, "'"" ~ ,ping mad. Only btfo .. lot Iwl /",rW Itis >iii", rtd fnnIri in ,lot 8""'8'. If. Md ffl'n $10M ,Itt... fJn ,lot Jri .........y. tIJ· "'iring /tis pride and io/ unlil tlot I"" po#i/Jlt ""' .... nI, ,II. QU'<>",,,ri< J_ ...... ng .hut. /Jut/lot. /U Itt ,",,,,,Itt.! ~ ,11. 8"'''" '0 It;. /roo, J_ ,It<", Iwl bun d <111""'"' ruft/ing of tIw air. Q {: ,-",ifol ..J
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Sud> HouJin i_likt f~'\$ of ...... p<>Iogy.'" n...... of COlI .... S«n in tho tvtryday world. In the mlirn or tho u1'r.um.u, howtwr. thty art. common oco"",n«. 0 ... an . Iorn un ht lockLJ up in • mi_ croscopic priso"; III< "0' it Iw shed ;t. shadl.. and >lip~ aWilY
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ojlrolly into tho nigln.
•
UNClIITA'>
This miraculous Ibil ily 10 esape esa 1*p roof prison. iHnlirriy due '0 ,n. wovo!ike face of mi<:roswpk pI"kl"" wIIi"" ~nabln 0,om. ond Ihrir corulilutnlS 10 do OUln.lllinll' 11... wo·.... can do. And on. of ,n. .... ny Ihinp waves con do i. pen<'''1< 'PPOf.n'ly impen_ ...... ble burin>. Thi. i. nol an obvious 0< wdl_known wO>T propn-ly. Bu, i, an be donlOllSl ..,ed by. ligh, beam ,..... ling,hro"'" • block of 111- and ' rying ' " nape in,OIn. air I><)<>nd. The key I/ling is wh31 n.ppens .. II>< edgt of,he gl ... block. ,he boo.dory wIIt~ ,he 81'" mtnd. In dftct. il is imprisoned in ,be 81 .... Howevt'I'. som.,hing codially diffo""" h.ppens if anow,- block of 81- is broughl cbst ,be bound.ry. leovinll ' ,n..11 pp of .ir beI~n ,be ,wo block>. Ius, I. bef~. some of ,be ligb, i. ","K,ed bock in'o ,I>< 111_. 6u'-aJld 'his i. 11>< cflIcioi ,hing---wme of,he ligh, now kaps,be air gop Ind , .....Is inlo lbe !«Ond gla .. block. The p.a •.u.l betw.oen In. lighl ......... mikt ,h. gIau_ai, boundary ,nd IT~ ..,/]«,ed bKk in'" 11>< Ill.... they IT~ no' actually refkc,ed from ,be "".," boundary of In. glau. lns,.aJ, 'hty pef\C1r11t I sIIon distance in,o lhe lir beyond. Conooquen,ly. if ,heye",,,,,n',, .noth.. blod< of III ... bef",~ they GIIn ba<:k •• hey can conlinut on Ihtir ....y. Place 0 KCnnd 81 ... block .... illtin a bair', bread,h of ln. r. .., ond. hey p"'''''' 'heligh' jump.,he .ir pp .nd tIC'pes i.. prison. This .blli,y to pen", ..1< an app . ... n'ly impen<1rablt barrier is common '0 .II'~of ........ from ligh. wa ..... ,,, sound w""", to 11>< probabili,y """ .... auocia,ed wi,h .,"",.. II 'herefu ....... nif.... ilStlf
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in tilt microocopic ,."".Id. ArS""bly. tilt moot .triking =mpl~ i. tilt plltnomtnon of alpha d..,.y in wh"h on alpt... panicle broab out <>f lilt appartnlly e.. apt-proof prisoo of an atomic nudtus.
BREAK ING OUTOF A NUCLEUS An olplu pon"k ;..1It nud ..... of a htiiWll a.om. An u",lobl •. "" radioacli ... , nudow. """"'timn .pit. OUt an alpha paniclo in a fw btot high jumpt" in lilt _rid, tlltrt ;. no ""y lit can jump ""or • fon", that high. No hum.n bring ali.. has ",If.. itnl 'I,mglh in lMi, I'l!" WdL.n .Ipho panidt inside.n atomic nudeu. finds ill<>lid metal f""'" i. 10 lilt high jumpt" Conlr>ry to all exp«:ta.ions.~, olpho pa",,"" do """'I'" from 'Iamic nuclei.. And t/t.ei, ncapt i. tnlirdy due to llItu- """dike &C •. !.ike light w ...... trappod in a 81... block, they can pen .. rat. an apparently imptrlttrablo barri .. and slip ....y quietly into 1ht out_ .id. world. This p....... is calla! quantum tun .... ~ng anJ .Ipha parlidn art said to '"tunnel" oul of an .tam" nucleus. Tun ... ling is "'1""Uy an instana of. mort soneral phntomenon knOWlt as uncertainty. which put.. fundamontallimit on what ..... can a...! Cinoot know about the microscopic w""ld. T ilt doubl~ .~t tlptrimtnt i. an exedkn. J.monstration of u ..... n.intY-
THE HEI SENBERG UNCERTA INTY PRINCIPLE Th. ~...,n • mi""""'l'i< p...;cle lik.n d«lron <.n go 'hmugh bach '~IO in Ihtoattn ,imultantou,ly ;'lh.l il can .xi.l .... uptTpruition oi l_~"" wnt co"""'J>Of'Iilinglo Iht p.rtid. goi"5 Ihrough one oJil and ,h. OIherlO 'M p..,i<. ham willI>< noliud. For ,hat ' 0 happen, an inlerr. ....... p.n...., mlU' appear on tl>< -..od !I<,....". lIut 'his. oi rou .... , requi~ thr indi.id .....1w.... in.he oup<rpOSiti"" 10 iolm..... ".. focI ' hot in.er· f.,..,,« is. crurial ingr<Ji.nt fo' tho d«troJl to ""hibi, wri,d qWIn' 'urn bth."io, 'u,n> ou' .0 h.... profound implica, ion. for wh., .... tu~ ptTmi" \IS '0 know .bou, Ih •• I«tron. Say in ,he doubl•• Ii, •• ptTim<> 'hrough! W.II, '0 maltt the double '~I .. ptTimon' a bi, .. ~ .. to .i,u.Ii~, "'ink oi an d«tron ... bull .. from • mo.chin. pn.nd the oattn .. a 'hid. mt1al shot. wi,h '''''' ....-,;"al ~ltl .~". IVIt.en bull ... a.. fiml allh. oattn, "'",. cnlt, ,h • .tits aoJ go "'rough. Think of ,he .Hts .. deep chan .... l. cu' 'hrough ,he 'hid< ..... tal. The built .. ricochtt off lhe in .. rnal .... ll. oi"" ch.n .... k.nd by ,hi. mean. reach ,he ... 000 ",,,,,,n. They can obviously hi' .ny point "" th • ..."oJ oattn. Bu!, for .implicity.im.gi.... they.oJ up ."he mid· poin. of ,h. second ",... n. AI", for simplici,y, ..y ,hal" ,hi. point tho prob.bilily w...... _i.t..! with the bun ... in'erfe~ """"""" 'i ...ly, '" i, i. a plac. gelS piI in ,he opposite dir«lion. It'. th ... m< ifyo
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1"'''''''
• rOC<Juet ,«oils in III< "1'1"''';'< dil'<'Clion. Crucially, lht """il of III< eJ '" through. A~ .. 011. if lht >Crttn mC>VtltO tht !tfl. lht bun., mus, n. ... 11"11< th""'5h lhe Itri· ...nol slit; ifi, roo .... 10 tbe right, it m\lSl h.'" b«n III< right_ h.and slit. H~r, .... know lhol if .... locale which ,IiI a bull.t goes through.;t d.o,roy. 1M in.nf.",n«' paUan On .11< s«ooo 11<,...",. This i. Olraighlf" ....... 'd to undersland from the W,"", point of view. W. art as unlil:.n. hand <" oS black and whit•. Ttl< Uy q ..... lioo ,heref"r<;o: From tilt hllcf. point of view, what would i1 lake 10 J«uu,. 'he ;n .. rf t'"jtaory '" .hat i. ""n hit .,;.ho,.ho black .. ripe.". In IJjactn. whi.e stripe .• hi. will bt .ulf~n •• 0 "."".. Gu." . ht in.c,f=nee plu ... n. S.rip" ~ fo'",,'1y whi.e win btcorne black..-. anJ "rip'" WI ~ ronnerly bLock ,.ill btcorne whiter, Tht nt ...sui. will bt I uniform g'ay."The intmemlce ratter" will bt .",...red ou'. Ikcouoe i. mu", be imp""'ible'o 'enwl>ether. give" bulle. will hi. I blod: IlripeO' an .Jjactn. whi •• llripe (or vice versa) •• M jiuery .idowayo """"'" of each buller muo' be enti",1y unp,..Jktablt, And III this mu" COmt to p... for no otl>n- ",.... n .h.n .hot ..... a .. loclfing ,.hidJ ,IiI each bulle. goes .hrough by .he 'ewil of ,ho "" .... n. In atht, "",rd ••• he >ny oc. ol pinning down . ht location or. particle like an elo veloci.y unttrtain. And th. "Pro.i'e is trut .. wdL "The acl of pinning down lht vdoci'y of • p."ide makes its location unee".;n. The firs. pe'~
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UNClOTAI>
"
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anJ quantify this cff«l was tht German physicill \\~rn.c H.i .. n"",,. onJ it i, calIoJ Iht H.i .. n"",, u"",.,uinly prin. cirk in his hOIIo<. AccorJing 10 1M ulloCal down. tht unttn.. in is ilS ""I.xity. And "'" more pI'tCi ..1y ilS ""I.xtty i. pinned down, the ""'''' ","""nain ;11 l.xat;"n. lmagi ... if thi, """" .... inl also appl i<J tl) wh .. t w< muld know about tht .""ryJay "",,\d. If w. had PI'tC; ... knowJe.dge cl tIt.t .p«J cla itt . icplo ......... would n<>t be abk to ,.11 wh .. htc it was.,.,.,. N_ yo,k or !.os Angelos. And if ..... had pl"t'ci ... knowkJg< of tht Ioation cllM airplan•• w. wool.! be unablt tl) ..11 whtthtr it was auioing at 1.000 kilo""'t." ptt hour Or I kilom.... p<'r hour_nd about to plumm.t oot of the .ky. ",. u nttI"tainty principle .. im '0 prOUd qUoin tum th.ocy. I f )'<>U ,,"uld m.. p"'Pu would d..,roy tlt.ti, wa"" I>chav· ;"~r«if><.Uy. int.ri.... ""•. And wi,houl in .... f.... ""•• quantum tht pttmit u< to m."", .. p~1y .11 ..... woold like '0 m."", ... Tht .. is . limit to 011' know!· son 10
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~.
This ~m;t i. not simply. quirk oftht doubk slit '"'Jl<'rimtnL Iii. fun.la rntnl.l As Richart! Feyn .... n """arked: ·Noon.Ius ..... ' found (or ...... lhoughl 00 • way .round tht unttrtainty principle. Nor art 'hey ...... likely 10.' It i. btcau .. alpha partiel .. ,...,.dike charxl.,. Ihat they con escape ,ht appa,....,,1y escape·proof prison clan atomic nucl
ha"".
H~•• 1It
Htistnl>Ctrtainly principl< m.k<s i. p"..ibI. 10
unJ ....... nJ ,lit pt,....,m.,H'" from ,lit por,id. p<>in' 0/.;.... GO ING WHERE NO HIGII , UMPER HAS GONE BEfORE ~.Il
.h.. an alpha part id. in a nuclew i. lik . n Olympic high jump"" ""nail...! by. S.n>n.,..high froc<. Common "~"Y' ,h., i, i. moving about in~ .1It nucle .. wi.h inoullk;'n ••p«t ..... yday world. not .o ,lit microooopic world. fn .... r"" in i.. nud..r p'''''''. lilt .Ipha p.tlidt i. ""f localiz...! in spoc~, is. ilS posi,ion ;. pin""" down wi,h g~'1 oc.rily I>< ... ry "nur· lain. I, could, in 0' ..... wo ..... , I>< much g< .Ipha patlkl< c.n l.ap ou' of lilt nucleoa-a f•• , ""mp.rabl. to ,lit Olym pic high jump"" jumping ,lit 5·m<'''' f. nu. Alpha p.nicl<$e"",,,. inlo ,1\tW<>r1d ou ..id. ,lItir pri",n ...u .... pri.ingly .. 1M Ferrari.merged inlO ,lit world oulliJt iu gorag •. AnJ ,hi. "Iunnelin!" i> due '0 ,lit H.i .... herg u~ ... in'y principl<. 6u. lunn .. ing ;.. ',..,..Wily proa:ss. Not only can .... b;olOmic p. tlid .. Ii"" alpha particles ,un"" ou' 01. nude .... IlIty can I"nnd in.o il 100. In fac' ..... ch ,unneling in,..,....... IItlp. apl.in. (!.It" rnyst
Tilt Sun g
's.. a..pt< W~, ofSunolli""."
UNCI""""'" ..... uTII.lJMrnOF "",",,' LIDGE
•
lIu, hydro,,,,, r.... io" has a probltm. The rOl'Ct or a"rae,ioo ,h .. gl~. '~h" pro'"no-.he -"'O"g nude., r"",,"_lu. • • n e.· 'r<mtlyoho" ranst. For ,wo prolOn> in , I>< Sun I<> com< und.,. ilS infl~n« a nd be ,n. ppod I<>g01htr, 'I>n, tl>< proto ... m"" colli.!< ..."",mo." op«es on, '0 be II an ex· t .. mtly high leml"rature. ~hr>ici ... caIcuJ.,od ,I>< n...,...rylem~'u .. in ,I>< 1920"j ..... OS ""'" OS it was ""p«tod tha, tl>< Sun .... runni", 00 hydrog"" r",;.,n. II 'urnod "Ut ' 0 be roughly 10 billion < hnr' "r ,!It Sun wos known '0 be oolyaOOu, IS milliondegr<eo-'<>ughly . '..., .... nd ,ime. k>wu. I!y rights. , he Sun ohould not be .hinillg a t all Ent.. tl>< Gn-man physid .. Frill Houle,man •• nd the Engli.h ..' ronome, "obert AlkirlO<>n. When a pro'on in ,he <~or,he Sun appmacheo .n",her pro.on .nd i< p",hod badr. by its fieree rtpulsion.. i, is j .... t OS if it ""coun'''' • high brid ... 11 ",'rouOOi", ,he..."OO pro'on. A"be 15 miUion d'8,en ttm»tn'u" in the heart of!he Sun. !he pro,on would apl"ar '0 be moving rar too"owIy '0 jump !he ...u. H~, ,he Hei .... be< "Ie.. n' cal· ......J ,ha, ,I>< fi"t prolon Cln ,un"'] IlIrough the . pp .... n'ly imp<""rablo harrier around the secood Prolon and .uccesofully f.... wiob it t ....... t!lt "I1ral"'" 'tmpn. Hou"""'''' rq>OrttdJy tnN to impress hi' girlfriend with • ~ne that nobody in histo,y had u...J btfo .......... I>< w.. !he DIlly penon in 'he world who knew why.he ... rs wm. 'hining. It must ha .. worked. lWo )'tars
101.,.. Chari", •• 1I.i< Ilti .. nb<" unc.rtainty principle uplains """, •• hing much do.., 10 home:.1>< very .. is.en", of tl>< alo"., in ou, bodi ...
UNCERTAINTY AND THE EX ISTENCE OF ATOMS Hy 1911 II>< Combridi' ""peri men" of No:-w Zealand physki., E..",,, Rutherford .... d ~al"! thr .tom .. ..,..,.,b!ing. m;n;",uce ",lar 0),>1""', Tiny .k<:lrons flinN.boul a COmp><1 atomic nucltus much lik pia..,,, .",und tl>< Sun. Ilow....... ao:ording to M ......U·.'heory of .1«Ir"",apltl isrn. an orbiling d«1ron should rod;",. lig,1 ''''''5Y and, within. m~ hur>dred· millionth of. >«onol, .pil"al in.o tl>< nudtu •. "A,om,," a. ll.id...nl !'< d;wical poinl of vi"",: Hut atOm. do ni,l. Ar>d II>< opl .... ,ion comn from q ... ntum lheory. An electron C.nnOO F' toodo .. to • nudm. b..au ... if it d;J. i" location in 'P"'" would b< ""ry prtd..1y known. 6uI according 10 ,h. Il.i ..nl:t vdocily woulJ b< >"tty u"""l. in. It could t.«o"", .... ormou~y hug<. ]""'gil1< on angry b« in. ,hrinking 1>0>:. ".. . "",IIe. II>< bo>: 5.... '1>< a npin II>< b« and thr mort violen,ly il Mltcn ilS< walk of iIS prioon. This i. prtuy much II>< .... y.n ,1«lron be· If i, .... rt "Iu ... =1 in'o ,I>< nudeus i""lf. i, would .... '"" in .n .cquirt on enormous . p«< ground ben..,h our fffi i, soIi.l. 6u, tl>< principle does mort Ih.n ,imply explain Il>< nud"; .. thrirco .....
.'Om.
UNClIITA '''''' ..... U TIlE IJMrnOF "",",,' LEIXiE
•
WHY ATOMS ARE SO BIG Rtull,h ... 'ypKal .,om is aboul 100.000 'im.. bigg~' lhan ,ho nucleu, a, its ctnLtr. Un ...... tandin~ IoIby thtrt i, 'urn a fan, ... ,i< amoun, ol ~mply 'pau in a'"m. rtqui .... brinS a bi. m<>rt pitt;" .bou"he Hei ..... be'1 unc ..... in'y principle. S,riclly speaking, i, sayo .h., i, is. p."i«iUon.nd mornmlUm-, •• he, .lu.n ;"'" ito ... Iocity-tlu., ,,"nno' oimub."""usly be ..... ~rmined wi,h 100 per. «n' un.in,y. The m"",.n'um ol I partid . i. ,h. product ol i10 ....... and .... lodty. I, ', 'o.Uy j"," m""u,~ olhowdifficult i, i"o ""I' ." .,,,,,hing ,h., is mo~ing. A ""in. fo, ill<'.nct. h... I 101 ol m"",on'um rom· p...... to • co', tv<" if ,he ca' i. ~n! f..... ,. A I"""on in .n alomi< """It", is abo., 2,000 lim .. mort m.assi ... llu.n an oketron. A=rd· in~ .0 tho HriOC1IbtTJ u...,.,.tainly principlt. then. if a proton and an ol« ..on ... confined in ' M sa ..... .."Iu ..... ol.poo:, lh ••1«..00";11 b< "",,"ing abou, 2.000 limn f.., .... "I .. ady..... gt1.n ioklin! ol ..... y , he electro .... in In .,om m"" h..... for biur' .."Iumelo fly abo., in llu.n tho proton. and Il
• OF ATOMS AND ORGAN PIPES
Th= or. ,MY> many Jiff<m>t -yo olIQOking •• thing. in the quan· tum world, tach a ~impu of. truth that is fruOlratinsir dwivt. Ont wII)' is to think or 11>< probobility >'ting like ><>unJ wa ..... confi....J to on organ pi~. I. i, nol p<>«ihl< to make ju>' any nol. with ,II< "'P" pir<. TI>< ""un.! can vibrate in only. limited num""," of .lifT... "'" wayo ...eh wi,h. MUlil< pitch. or f=;ut electrical fora of .he .tomic nucleus. Thi, may not b< Clactly th< .. m. as bri"l! tr.lppcJ in a physiool cont.;".,.. Howev<1", il confin.. til< d«lron Wave .. surely as .11< .... 11 of an orp " pip< ronfin .. uound ...... n.. d«.ron waloY can thrrrfo", ... i" ., only ' ....,.in f,",!uencies. Tho< r.... u.nci .. ae.hu"" nd _ .." in an organ pip< .nd "ftll< .ltc,ron ......... in an .tom doptnd on til< characltrinia of tht "I).n pi~
,.,.,all orpn p~, for i", ..""". p,.,.!u«o higl>er_pil,hter -Imj".ncy· _non ... • A hig...-. Imj".ncy ~. h.. mo~ rr.k1 anJ lro"g.. in • &ivIe 10 defy 1M ,,!«IriaJa" .. eIi"" of 1ht n"'l .... . nd orbit f.rfhtr away. n.. piel,,'" lh., nnerg.. i. of an ei
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UNCI""""'" ..... uTII.lJMrnOF "",",,' LIDGE
This prop""y highliJh,. onOlh ... importanl diff..... a bt, WttII ,''' miO'OOWpi< world of ..o ..... a nd ,''' ~y wort.i In , ....... ,!)'Ctn.inlr principlc---by jlS borncllikt resi.tana 10 bring confinal in ...... II . p>«. !lut I'" Heisenb<'l unttrtainl)' prin. <;Pic docs nOl . imply prt ... nl ,mall things like atom. rrom shrinking without limil- uitim .... y e""laini"8 lhe solidity of maner. it 0100 ptnCn" fa r hiM"'" things from shrinking withou, limit. n,. ra r big. g... things in q .... tion .. estars.
,1«,,,," CO"
UNCF.RTA I ~
AND STARS
A SIlIr is. gion' boll o f gas",1d I"Sether by t'" g""';"'i",,01 pull of il> ""'" ma Uer. Th., pull is "" .... tantly trying to . hrink 1bt .tar and. if unopp....w. would "''1 quickly collap .. i, down to ,he me.esc black hoi,. For 1bt Sun thi. would takt 1m th.n half.n bou,. Since ,he Sun i• ....,.. deIlniICly nOl .hrinking down to. s\,<,<1<. thm' m"" bt ano,"'" fern hOI interior. This IWana. boIoIt ..... is temporary. n,. ou,warJ fora can bt mainta ined o nly while ,htrt is fuel to bu.n and ktep the SIlIr hOI. Soon.,. or lo t... fu .. will run out I'
'I',d_
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• Jju, oJl is noI IoSi. In lht
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A ........ 1Wan« is ,',ude with the inwanl pull of gravity lWanuJ n<>l by ,he OOtw.lN for« of ,he " .. '. hoot moUer bu. by lht ""kc,J fora: of jlS el",trod~ I'hys;am call it dcgtntrocy p""",n. Hut it'. ;... , • fancy 'Ofm for the ,ni.una of eloc'ron. to bc;ng "l""~ tOO eio« '''5<1ha-.A .t.r ",pported ',",ins' 5"'V;'1 byekclron p"' ....... i. known as • whit. ttLto whitt dwarfs from shrinking ~nder thei, own gravity Iu, ito limit .. The moK ."....i .. a tht ....... F' ito .. If.g .... ity. If the .... , is m ... i.... ~nough. ito grovit y will be powerful ..,OItgh to ...... rcome ...., tht "iff milt.na: of tht ,u,·, fleetron .. In fact, ,ht Ib' i, .. botagood from both OIttoide ... d inokl •. The "rooF' tht gravity of a,,",. tht more it "'Iu ....... tht gas inWt. And Iht moK a ps is "lu ... ..,J, the hotler il get .... an)'> ... who h.. ...,..J • l>icyclo p~mp lui....... Sin ... htat i. nothiJt5 mort th ... tht micJ<>. ""pic jiggling of mauer, tht oI"",rons inside tht .... , fly about ..... fas'tT-so flSl. in fact. tha, lht tfk<,. of Mativi,y bocomt impo,'
'Ia',
•
UNClIITA '''''' ..... U TIlE IJMrnOF "",",,' LEIXiE
lInt.' '"'" .I«lron. g<1 mort mw.i ... ",hor than much r....', which mean. thq.n: In> .ff«liv<.t batt.. ing tho waU. of thoi, prison. '"'" .u, suITt .. a w<'Tkso to IuJI ;1< h.adlong coIlapot l noJ il just goes on shrinking. lIul.onu aglin.ill i.,..,. ..... Evtnl uaUy.lho .ta, shrink>'" much tha, its d ..pil. thoi' Ir<mion to bi$tanu.ln iliill fil in )'Ou, h.nd.)
.Itct"'....
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's.. OIa)'lJ Ti ......•
• Such ......... lhoushllO form .ioln1t1y in '\1~"""Hxplruions. Whil. tho ",,'.r rqioo. of •• ta' .'" blown in", 'l'oco. lb¢ in".. ""' .. shrinks to form. """Iron Slor. NNtro" ....... btin8 liny and cold,
UNCERTA INTY AND THE VACUUM
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White d .... rf. """ .tars "por'. ptrbap,s Ih, moll ",,,,,,,kabl. "''''"'I......'''' of ,h. }kistn"",,, un~;nly principle i, the mod.,." piclurt of nnpty sp.u. It . imply annol bt empty! n.. Hri..nbt'l! unttrlaimy principle an bt mormul.IN 10 say ,h.t it i. impoosihlt 'n simultanrowly "'ta...", ' .... nnn of . pa,_ tido and the intnva1 of time (or which il h.. been in .. im... "" Con"'l"enlly. if "" ~ what hapP"'" in I U!!ion of emply .po« in • ~ry tiny in •.....,.) of , j .... , ...... will bt. largo ,,"""rtainty in tl><
Now, ",us i •• fonn of rn«5Y.' Thi. mun.,h., ",....100 can .p~ar oUI of nolhing. Th. Pf(IVOO is lhal il can .p~" only fo. a mnt .plit _ond i>t I..... of natu«. which u....lly pr • ..-enllbinp from ap~.ring OUt of nothing, appear to turn a bli...! ~ to ....... 1$ thaI hap~n 100 quickly. If. rath.tt liu a l.. Ng..·.dad nol nolicing hi. oon has borrowed lhe car for Ih. nighl as long as il gelS PUI N.=k in the garage brlort Jayb ... ak. In p.-..;ti"", m ... i. ronjured OUI of emply 'P"'" in the form of microoropic particles of mat .. ,. l1>t quantum vacuum is aclually. S«Ihing 010 ..... of micros
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UNCI""""'" ..... U TIlE IJMrnOF "",",,' LEIXii
in,o aj".na ond II>«!~n<e>. roiling ... of ,he q""n· 'urn ~""uum .< .n'i.... Uni· ....... i. oo,h;ng mor.,h.n I Guan,um 11""' .... 'ion of ,he vacuum! If. In '''raordinary ,houg.ht.
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THE TELEPATHIC UNIVERSE HIIW >.rolf,; toll IIIfWllI:l lIO mu ll!illlrlll
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is in ...lr<>I1t ""ndJ. /)ott" ask ",II", It.u~, .hao'" .,..". ninK or ,.."", i. /inpinl if spi""i"f. II >WI1.,h""lhf.<JI" n,t poi", i. ,,..,, 1M'" i< an jJ,miatl ",inning coin in an jJ"",;'al box Jim"g M II aJ/J """'" in II JUt"'" g.>iouyon ,Itt for .;Jell{ Vn~. Th. fim""" "''''''' d .... ,. """I~ Im/ant""",",i" wi,,",,,, tho mn· nl .pii'·s«<md of deb,. iN coo.sin /0 bill;"" I;glll_,,,, .. from &,ril "'"..,. do ...... it,. ~""jn
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Tht min on Earth rould cqu.ally _II " ... come d""", toil •• nd iu di"ant cousin heao.U. This i. no' imrorlanl. Tl>t ';pificanl1hing i, rhOl ,h. min on 111< far .ide of the Uni ....... kit""" in'Unl1y the SIal. of iu Ji< .~ of hgh •. ' Sine. ,II< ooi ...... 0our lht s'al. of"". coin musII.1«
• • minimum of 10 biUion yars to rnch thtother. Yet lhty kn_.bout .och oct.... in I .p lil oewn, physic .... ha"" obonvN tht btkMorof cain< that are ocr.ralN by largo di.tances. ~ coin ..... quanlum coins. and 1M If" nOl of .:<>II .... as larg< as tho width of the Un;........ ' Ne .... nhtl.... tho exporimo"to ha..., ."""",fullynsidtrin! . pteuIi., partido Prop<'r' YalltJ spin.
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SPOOKY ACTION AT A DISTANCE Spin i. uniqut to til< microscopic W' lhe f"oo.mrn,.1 ungrasp;tbility of the mkroscopic.......tll The .pin of po,c;cln, lib: thti, inhtrtnt unpmli< el«tron h.pp.·,,, t<, carry tl>< minimum quall,ity. Thi.
' In f"" •• tho qum'um coins ..... to bt c....... ,~ .... '1Ii<.y dis.. "",. whidl ~ onoth ........,. ,bt Wt of or. .... Un;>tory. ~ a;,,' ....... ' to ~ on< omuiOK u.th ,nd Oft< ''''rin$ ,ruth eon/y-Iha' ...... "'urn Ihoo
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Jl<'rmil> il 10 .pin in I..... p<Wibk "'oyt. Thil\\; ol il .. 'pinning nih" ck>ckwi .. or .n'id""kwi.. (oIl1.o... gh of 00"'" i, isn',OC1""Uy .pin_ nin~",
.111). If two ,l«:lro ... a .. cr..,eol'oge1b.ot"-, ... r.rst with ck>ckwi..
• pin, ,ht....:ond with antick>ckwiM 'Pi n-thrir .pin. cancel Physi_ dOl. oay 'h,ir '0101 >pin i. zero. Of coo ..., I'" p;>i, of eltc,ron. can 01 ... ha.., a IOta! 'Pin ol zero if thr r. ... , ckwiM .pin .ndlM >«<>00 • d<>pin of .....,.Iho p.ir', .pin must .. main..", .. long as til< pai, .. main. in <:li"tnct. NOIhing ou, of ,... oo.!i ... ry ...... However, the .. i•• n","', way tltc,ron. with. 10101 .pin of z. R«a11 ,h.,. if two of a microscopic "y"em a .. p<Wible, ,uperpooilion of ,ho IWO is.t.o po$$ihl<. Thi, m..... i, i, "".. ihl< 10 a p;>i, of electron, 'hOI or, .;m"hanoo.... ly dockw .... _.ntidockwise and on ,ic lock wi .... cl<> ..,,,ironmenl. Th, mom,nl Ih, outsKk ..... rld in ..!"OCt> with i,_nd ,hal inW"a< tl«tron at tht r.~ plac., ... rn . out to Iu.., • ck>ckwiM 'pin, t"'n inllanUneou.1y the ",her ,ltctron must IIOf' being in ito
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TI" n"''''TIIIC U~".....
Khirophmlic s'a" and ... urn< an an,iclockwis< spin. "Tho ,oco! spin . • f' ..... U, mus' .1_,.. ",main ... ro. If. on the o'her hand, ,he o1«. ron bo spinning anliclockwis<. ilS C<>II.sin mu.ll inuan'a· 'urnS oul nwusly usum •• clockwise .pin. II dotS 001 m.U.r if 01'1< d«.ron is in • ,1<<1 box h.lf_buricJ on .he se.floor and .he o,her i. in a box on .he far sid. of th. Univerw. On. d«1ron will r«pooo insunlan.'"ul,. to the ochrr·s This is 00' ...... Iy some esocmc .heory. lnotan .. """", innuena has aCIU· .11y bmI obstrvtd in .he Iabor.,ory. In 1982, Alain """",'aoo hi. rs mea· sum! • he poIari>..otion of the phoco ...... propn-.y ",lated '0 • heir spin. .... pee ... t.. m ~ tha. measuring the polari.. tion of photons •• on. dct«.or .ff«ted ."" poIari .. tion m .... um! .. the ochrrdOl«' or. The innu."", that "aveled b«<ends. Cruci.Uy. thi' _ . qllH!0.. minimum. some kind of inn""",," .ravtled botween the dtt«:lors .. four ti",.. the ,pe-ed of light. If the ted>no""y 1u..I maJ. il poosibl. '0 m ....."'.n ~ sm.11eT lime interval ..... peeI ooulol have >I>own the """.Iy innuena.o bo ~en f.. t... Quo-n.um .h_y _ right And Eirulrin-hl ... him-was .. mnllNonlocali.y a in ,he micmsoopit:,'l".:m'um wodd i, .h •• ,,,,, .pins of pa"id.. a", undetermined un.il.ht in .... nt1hey a", <>bse~.And. bof"", the .pin of ""eel«lron in the pair is<>bserv«l, il i, 101.11,. unpmlicl.blt. II ha, • 50 [>ttttnl ch.noe of bri"8 clock· wise aoo 0 50 percent cha"", of bring a",iclockwise (one. o,ain we com. up .gains. the l\al;ed "'ndorn ..... of"'" m~1ol1.lIul ..... though Ihrr. i. no _,. of knowing ,he .pin of 01'1< eleclron un,il i. is
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• obstr....J, th. 'Pin of lho ocllor ,kelron mu.' seliit .I""", 10 bti",
<>ppo';,. i..... n ......,... l}--no mo".r how f.r '_y thoo'ht, I"'nid. happtnslOM. ENTANGLEMENT At tIK hn.rl of Mnlocmty i. tht tcnJrnnslN p.nidts "'..., 10 have . ..p...... n;'len
nonlocalily. In fact, il """,,)d
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er .... an ;n". n .. nmu. commun;,a,;on< With it Wt '<>u1.} phon. the ,idt of, ... _rid wi.h IN) tim. &1"1'. In bo. "'t could phon. tho <>lilt, sid, 0( the Univnv with no liom ky .~ of-liw.l harri ... frustratingly, I>owevCSSaF large dill . nca miSln ..... one dir«.ioo of . p;n Co cOO. for. '0' aOO tMoth.r " J." HOwntt. to know cha, you ~ .. sending a "()" or • " J; you would h.~ CO chocl:; 'M 'Pin of ' M p.rtid•. Hu, checking kills ,h. >uporpo";'ion, ",hich i• .... nlia! fOr , 110 i..... n'. """ ... t only 50 ptrant ' u" of ..OOina' " [: • I~I of ~nc
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'he ,p«d-<>f-ligh' !>Mri... to bt brokn "'i,ho~, aC1~aUy bti", brokn. Wh .. ",'u .. !i,," with """ h.nd il
TELEPORTATION Arj!;u.bly, "'" .u~, rot .... 'ial ~lv .. 'akin ~ an bjec' '" • faraway place to ,hal' .uitably de ..... al lhe other end an construe! • ~rf«;t copy. Thi, i, r, .... which "",'intiy "b..me.I" crew membtrs ~ and forth t..I~n pion .. a nd ""ip. ",. 'nd ou' curren, 1te k>calion fOunders on tom .. hing much """. bu;c 1~ Ihi$. Acron.ling 10 1M H imro.';b!e 10 ~tly ~;be . n oo;..:.-,he po';lions of all it> ..""'., ,he elec,ro,,. in tach of lhoot alom ... nd to on.. Wi,hou"uch knowlodge. ~" bow can OIl e,kably, off..... .... y ou'. The rt....., i. 'hat .... '.n!led particle, bthave like. ,i",l. indivi,ibi •• n'i.y...., tome levd • •hey l"..,..nch other·, Jttp01IS«...... Say .... have a par,ido, ~,.nd ........ n' to mak. prrf<'<1 copy, p' . It Mands '0 rtaSOn ,luI in onk, '0 do .hi. i, i. n«nSary ' 0 know proprr'ics. HOW<"VCI", accon.li", '0 ,he Hci..., l>erg uncerlain,y prin' ciple. if .... measurt lilt. pI"iculor proper'y of ~ pr«isd~ i" I"" .. ion-.... in..itahly I""" all knowlo:rlanl ,hi", i, ,hOI" Ind P· . .. . n .... '.ngled pai,. Now.... tangle " .. i,h P .n.J mak a m<"urtm<'Tl'
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t.i"ty principl~. hoIo ......... 1ht m",u"'mt11t wiU ;" ..... it.bly i"voI ... us kJoing knowloJso ,,( so"'" ",n.,. P"'l"""ty"( P. But all i. 1"101 kJol. Ika. ..... p' "'as ~ntan&1N with A. it rrtaim knowINg. ,boUl A. And b.cou .. A wa •• nlangltuf1h il has """... Wen in touch with P......... 11101... knows i1> occ""'" Furl"","mort. wbm1ht " " ,=>rnt-.sonadoonA.nd P ~ondinfOnnotion aboul "'.... prop«1 of tho S la, Trrl tran'porta t urm oullO bo ... ilh ... pinning down tho position. and soon.,,( ~ . tom
>no. infonn .. ion on ,Ii< oril!inall"nid•• P. m..' bo ,.."""i,1«I by or·
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dinary ""........... , io."""'" dun ,pord 01 light. th. """""., ,pord I.... i'. So...., if I' .nd P' .... f... aport. tho ,tra,,,,,ofP'-tho p'.f",~ tha, ..... ,..;th ... ansI ....... '. moor yo"an
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TI' " TU''''TIIICUN,n ...
in a rt a p«dod ,han for ,he recons"""ion "r a two· dimmsional TV im.gt. Th. nbvio ... ""'y 10 smd ,h. infomution ;. .. . .... i.. "r blnary"bits"-,Jou and dashes. If ,he informa'ion i. 10 !>t """ in a """,,,obi. ' imo.,ho pw- m .... obviOll!ly bt .I>ort. i!u, ul,rashort pul.... ~ posoil>k only wi,h ullra·high·~ .... 'lIY light. As scionet fiction wri, .... Arthur C aark< h.. poin'N OIl', !>taming up Cap .. in Kirk ""uJd .",ily ... k< ~ ....
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83luyof ... n! TeioporlO'i()n and nonlocality ... klo, ,he m",' mind·bl<>wing con · O«J""na of m'.ngl~m .." i. wha, i, m~.... for the Uni ...... as. whok. At 0"" ,im • . aU I"'rlkles in ,he Uni ...... """" in ,I>< .. me " ..~ bK...... all par1icies ,.. ... ,Ogttbtt in ,ho lIig Illng. Conuqumtly, all '''m' ~n ... ngkd wi,h ~adt o,ber. partkles in ,he Universe .... n,.", i,. W-dy wet. of qlUJltum mnnK,i"". u and ..... '0 ~ Ia" bi, of mallor in tho m"" distan' galuy. W~ l~ in a ,dtp .. hic uni ....... Wha, thi' actually means phy>ici'" ha ... nOO )'<, figured OIl'. Entlngl!:mtn, m.y.1>o help ""plain ,he OII .. tanding quntion pose
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WHERE DOES mE EVERYDAY WORLD COME FROMI According '0 quan,um ,heory."";rd >uperpo";,ion. of II .... art nOO ""Iy po"ibl. bu, guo .. n'.,...L An alOm con bt in many piatt"'«n ,he .. posoibiliti."ru.,I..oh Jirectly 10 many of tho b"'r", phonome ... ~ in Ih. mkroocopk "",,"Id. lIul why is i"h .. , whm Iars~ numben of .. om. club 'ogt,her 10 form everyday obj«:lJ, ,ho .. objects ..... r di.play quan,um be ...... io,! 1'<1, i",,"nct, now.- bth ... as if , hry
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• art in 1_ plaas.l 0""0 and .... anim.1 bthavn as if il is • combi ... lion of. fl"08 and. gi ... rr•. T ho tint .uempt 10 uplain t he .<>nun< Univcnt into r.ro domains, ruled by diffemu laws. On the one hond. the .. i,,1>< domain of th.< V< olher the .. i. the domain of the ""'y big, ruiN by normal, or dus;cal. lrw~ According 10 ,II< Coptnh'gp< rN>On it hu a1....,.• • ppcarN 10 ..uny 10 bt • """Y ~ns.ali.foclory aplanalion ofw~lhe~ world c.,..,.. m,1fL Tbt Coptnh.gtn [nttrprrlll1ion ili .. iJ<:s lhe uni ........ rbitntily. inlO Cwo dom.ins, only 0 ... of which is !O""med byq~.nturn cheo
